Canada "nowhere close to the finish line" in Afghanistan

Canwest News Service via National Post ^ | 2008-02-10 | Brian Hutchinson

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KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Despite operational setbacks, an intractable enemy, and bomb strikes that continue to kill Canadian soldiers, progress is being made to secure this volatile province, insists the general responsible for all Canadian military operations overseas.

"We're nowhere close to the finish line right now but we're moving in the right direction," said Lt.-Gen. Michel Gauthier, in a candid exchange with reporters at Kandahar Air Field during the weekend.

"I'm in a better position than just about any officer in the Canadian Armed Forces to say that."

Lt.-Gen. Gauthier acknowledged that hard-won territory in Panjwaii district west of Kandahar city fell to insurgents early last spring and early summer, thanks in part to a controversial decision to enlist male Afghans of fighting age into a new National Auxiliary Police force.

After only two weeks of training the new auxiliary police were deployed with the Afghan National Army and the poorly trained Afghan National Police to Zhari and Panjwaii, both Taliban hotbeds. The Afghans worked without close Canadian supervision.

"Certainly in Panjwaii district in particular, it didn't work," said Lt.-Gen. Gauthier. "They were not able to operate independently and to provide security in those areas."

The strategy was dropped and Canadians soldiers returned, fought back, and reclaimed lost ground. Panjwaii is now dotted with new police substations occupied by the ANP and Canadian troops.

Reporters were told there is no intention "at this point" to withdraw Canadian soldiers from the police substations.

Lt.-Gen. Gauthier, who has visited Afghanistan at least 20 times since Canadian soldiers first deployed to the country six years ago, said the number of direct attacks on his troops is "way down."

"There were a lot more ambushes eight to 10 months ago," he added. "I would suggest that's a good sign."

But insurgents are still able to disrupt military operations and kill Canadian soldiers using improvised explosive devices, or roadside bombs.

"They are attacking us indirectly," said Lt.-Gen. Gauthier.

Two Canadians have been killed in IED attacks this year. In 2007, 25 Canadian soldiers were killed by IEDs. Two others were killed in direct attacks launched by insurgents. Four Canadian soldiers have died in accidents since the start of 2007, and one died in an apparent suicide.

"Admittedly there have been a couple of bad (strikes) in terms of volume, in terms of numbers (killed)," the general acknowledged.

The Zhari and Panjwaii districts, where most of the deaths of have occurred, are still not safe, despite Canada's concentrated effort and focus in those areas.

With about 1,000 combat troops on the ground, Canadians are stretched thin and cannot secure the entire province of Kandahar and must "prioritize," said Lt.-Gen. Gauthier.

"We're focused on where most of the population of Kandahar province lives, 75% roughly, in Zhari, Panjwaii, Kandahar City," and two other districts to the north and south of the capital, Arghandab and Spin Boldak, he said.

"You can only do so much with the troops that you have," Lt.-Gen. Gauthier added. "You've got to make those tough decisions. So you've got to take Kandahar and bite it off, one bite at a time. And that's effectively what we've done."

There is a limit to what his soldiers can accomplish, he said.

"Is it secure enough for the NGOs (non-government organizations) to be streaming into Zhari and Panjwaii? No, it's not," said the general.

But the situation is gradually improving, he insisted.

"I guess we need to find away to deal with the perception issue, because it is all about perception. Do the locals have confidence that the (Afghan and) coalition forces in these areas will be there in May, June, July, August? That's our challenge, to make that so," said Lt.-Gen. Gauthier.

Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche, Canada's military commander in Kandahar, also attended the weekend meeting with reporters.

The current battle group, primarily soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Royal 22e Regiment, based in Valcartier, Que., is now rotating out of Kandahar and is being replaced by the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry of Shilo, Man.

"I want to take the opportunity to publicly give this guy, General Laroche, his commanding officers, his senior NCOs and soldiers a huge pat on the back for what I see are outstanding accomplishments in the last five to six months," said Lt.-Gen. Gauthier.

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Photo by Cpl Bruno Turcotte/DND
Canadian soldiers on patrol in Kandahar. In a frank
exchange, Lt.-Gen. Michel Gauthier told reporters
'There were a lot more ambushes eight to 10 months ago
... I would suggest that’s a good sign.'

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